The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a new online learning platform –The Skills Toolkit to build skills in the UK during the Coronavirus outbreak and beyond.
The platform gives adults easy access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses at home to help them build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects. Courses on offer will help people gain skills that employers demand and help kick start the UK’s economic recovery.
As part of Norfolk Chambers’ #NorfolkChamberHour at 11am on Tuesday 28 April, we are partnering up with New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership to check in with your favourite local businesses and make sure they don’t miss out on grants available to them – that’s the message behind the Big Small Business Check-In #bigbizcheckin.
The initiative encourages everyone to check in with local small businesses, through their websites and social media accounts. It’s an opportunity to check that owners and staff are safe and well, to show loyalty and to make sure that the business is getting the support it needs.
Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia LEP, said:
“This is a really challenging time for small businesses but there is help available – including grants for small businesses and hospitality, retail and leisure firms.
“Those are being paid out directly by local authorities, but we know that a number of companies have yet to come forward and claim. By checking in and making sure your favourite local businesses are aware of the help which is out there, you could be doing them a financial favour too.
“So think about your hairdresser, your favourite coffee shop or even your dog groomer or market trader – those sort of businesses could be eligible for grants. They are still eligible if they are currently closed due to Coronavirus restrictions so make sure they know what help is out there for them, and that you’re looking forward to visiting them again in the future.”
Make sure they have accessed free, impartial business support if they need it. They can speak to an adviser at the New Anglia Growth Hub for free on 0300 333 6536
The UK government has launched an employer referral portal allowing employers to refer essential workers for testing who are self-isolating either because they or member(s) of their household have Coronavirus symptoms. Take a look at the details and share with your members. Please note this is for England only – separate guidance has been issued in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Who can be tested?
The priority is on testing patients to inform their clinical diagnosis. In addition, testing is now being done for:
essential workers with symptoms
people who live with essential workers and have symptoms
This means essential workers can find out whether they have the virus, and can be helped to return to work if they test negative. Testing is most effective within 3 days of symptoms developing. See the full list of essential workers
Charities and organisations who have staff on the front-line help keep Norfolk communities safe can now access a new supply system should their PPE supplies run critically short.
Over the last few weeks Norfolk Resilience Forum (NRF) has been working hard to try and support the provision of PPE for those that need it to deliver key services.
Following a successful public campaign, which has already resulted in more than 180 companies coming forward to support the production of most types of PPE, a new process has been put in place to help front-line services source the equipment they need.
Currently there are times when demand is currently outstripping supply and the system will ensure that supplies of items which are in short supply are directed to those organisations with the most critical need. This will be in line with the current Government guidance. It will also help charities and other local organisations who deliver vital services to communities and meet specific criteria gain access to this equipment.
Trevor Holden, Chair of the NRF’s Tactical Coordination Group, said: “This is a countywide operation involving all partners in the Local Resilience Forum.
“”Partners in the Local Resilience Forum are all working together as the NRF to ensure every single citizen in Norfolk remains safe and critical needs are met.
“This is a tremendous amount of work and I pay tribute the officers and volunteers who are going above and beyond to ensure we deliver every day.”
If you have front-line staff and you require PPE, you should:
In the first instance you should seek to resolve your demand through your existing supply chain.
Where you are unable to meet your demand through existing supply chains, visit newanglia.co.uk/ppe-supplier-database and request login details for access to the database of local suppliers.
In the event that you are still unable to meet your requirements and you are directly involved in the support of critical services, please contact your local council.
Your local council will be able to pass your request on to the Norfolk Resilience Forum for consideration for emergency provision, where this is available.
Commenting on the latest UK Finance update on the number of firms successfully accessing CBILS, the British Chambers of Commerce’s Head of Economics Suren Thiru said:
“The increase in companies accessing CBILS is encouraging progress. However, the number of applications processed and approved will need to be increased significantly in what is a crunch week for firms urgently trying to access financial support.
“Our Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker tells us that a concerningly high number of businesses are still finding accessing the scheme too complex and too lengthy. The government and financial institutions must continue to work together to identify practical steps to improve the workings of the CBILS scheme to ensure that cash gets to the frontline as quickly as possible.”
Also commenting on the UK Finance update, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:
“Whilst we welcome the increased take up of the scheme, we are aware of many Norfolk businesses still trying to access the funding and that many are still awaiting lending decisions. Businesses need access to funds now and the need for easier access and quick lending decisions is vital.”
Coronavirus continues to have a huge impact the day-to-day operations of businesses across our region. Norfolk Chambers stand ready to support you, but we need to understand what challenges you are facing and how well the government support initiatives are working. Working in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, we need to hear from you about how your business is coping. In this 2-3 minute poll: Covid-19 Business Tracker – please tell us the immediate business conditions you are facing and whether your business has recently used any of the support packages from government and what your experience was.
Your input is essential to our work on behalf of the overall Norfolk business community. As a business leader, your views have never been more important.
Results from the latest BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that the vast majority of businesses surveyed have furloughed a proportion of their workforce, and are awaiting funds from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as payday approaches for many.
71% of survey respondents have furloughed staff, up from 66% last week
Cash flow remains a significant concern for many businesses – 6 in 10 have less than three months’ cash in reserve
The leading business organisation’s weekly tracker poll, which serves as a barometer of the pandemic’s impact on businesses and the effectiveness of government support measures, received 678 responses and is the largest independent survey of its kind in the UK. The fourth tranche of polling was conducted from 15-17 April.
Businesses furloughing employees
Results from the fourth weekly tracker show a steady increase in the proportion of respondents furloughing staff in anticipation of the Job Retention Scheme going live on Monday 20 April. This week, the tracker indicates that 71% of firms have furloughed a proportion of their staff, up from 66% last week.
30% said they have furloughed between 75% – 100% of their workforce.
28% have furloughed no staff.
Business continue to face a cash crisis, with 59% of firms reporting that they have three months cash in reserve or less. With payday approaching for many firms, the government’s Job Retention Scheme, which began accepting applications this week, has only a short time to get much-needed cash to firms facing urgent financial difficulties.
Initial reports suggest that the online application portal is meeting business demand, and attention will now shift to whether payments reach businesses as planned within 6 working days of making an application.
Commenting on the results, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said:
“With around 140,000 claims made on the very first day, this is a crunch week for businesses relying on the Job Retention Scheme to pay their staff. Our research suggests that over 70% of businesses will be using the furlough scheme in some form, so it’s absolutely crucial that it delivers.
“HMRC’s capacity to deal with the demand from business has been encouraging so far – and their staff working under immense pressure to get it up and running deserve our recognition and thanks.
“It is now critical that payments from the furlough scheme reach businesses as smoothly and as quickly as possible in order to protect jobs and livelihoods.
“Ministers will also need to consider keeping the scheme in place for longer, to help businesses transition as the lockdown is eased and the economy moves gradually toward a new normal.”
Does your business have production capability and capacity to produce PPE during COVID-19?
Do you have existing PPE stock which could be used by frontline staff?
Please complete New Anglia LEP’s simple contact form with details of your stock / production capability. For any more information, please email supply.chain@newanglia.co.uk.
Many of you will be applying to the government’s Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme online portal. Make sure you are prepared in advance with the required information:
Welcoming the Chancellor’s announcement of a Future Fund, supporting start-ups by delivering an initial commitment of £250m of new government funding which will be unlocked by private investment on a match funded basis, BCC Head of Economics Suren Thiru said:
“The Future Fund will help provide urgently needed support for many of our most innovative and fast-growing businesses around the UK, as we have urged.
“The fund fills an important gap in existing government support and could make a real difference to entrepreneurial firms navigating challenging circumstances. It’s crucial that this enhanced support reaches companies in difficulty as quickly as possible.”
HMRC have now published guidance to help employers make a claim when the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme claim portal goes live today Monday 20 April 2020 at 8am.
HMRC have produced this step by step guidance on how to make a claim. There is also a calculator to help you work out your claim. The system can process up to 450,000 applications per hour and employers should receive the money within 6 working days of making an application. To receive payment by 30 April, you will need to complete an application by 22 April. Please keep a note or print-out of your claim reference number as you won’t receive a confirmation SMS or email.
Commenting on news that applications are now open for the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:
“The opening of the Job Retention scheme is an important milestone for Norfolk businesses, who can now begin to access the cash they need to pay their staff and protect livelihoods. We are recommending that employers take the time to read the guidance in advance and ensure their claim is as accurate as possible to ensure that their claim is processed quickly. Any errors in submission are likely to result in significant delays in payment.
“The government deserves credit for the speed, scale and flexibility of its response to the challenges facing our business communities. The focus should now be on delivering this support to firms on the ground.
“The British Chambers network research indicates that two-thirds of firms have furloughed some portion of their workforce. With April’s payday approaching, it is essential that the application process is smooth and that payments are made as soon as possible. Any delay would exacerbate the cash crisis many companies are facing and could threaten jobs and businesses.”